FunStuf

We decided to let Claire try to feed herself. This is before. . . .

This is after. . .

Ben is "Checking for Scaries" under the table-- He says he found one!!





Claire, playing with her cousin Makayla-- Such cute girls!!

And Ben, Playing with the Boys-- His cousins Ethan (Right) and Hunter (left).





Ben doing his favorite thing-- Playing Playdough with Uncle James, and Ben's new best friend Janell!

Claire's Hair is growing (Finally)!! After-bath pics are always fun. . .














Ben also (apparently) likes tight spaces-- he had fun with this box for hours!! I'm okay with that. It promotes creativity, right?



Claire makes some pretty funny faces, this is one of the many!



Ben loves doing laundry!! I hope it lasts. . . .

Claire-- Warming up to Grandma Soelberg. Sometimes it just takes a little time. . .

New Year. . . Whew!!

Well, we survived the holidays-- made it to all the Doctor visits, and all of the family parties, and now it's the new year.

We had a lot of fun! Ben and Claire are both growing well. Claire eats like you would not believe, and Ben eats because we make him (or because we bribe him). Ben had his first Dentist appointment a couple days before Christmas, and he even let them clean his teeth!! What can I say? My dentist is freakin' awesome, as are his staff.

Christmas day we spent a total of 1 hour at home, the rest of the time was spent at all the family parties that you could possibly imagine-- Grandmas, Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, In-Laws, Out-Laws. . . Wait a minute. . . It was really great to see everyone, though-- Particularly our family from out-of-state (New York, California, and Arizona)!! Ben was so excited to see his cousins that he hasn't seen for so long. Emily's side of the family also had family portraits taken (a whopping 44 people in one little studio at Fotogenix-- it was INCREDIBLE). We're excited to see how things turned out!

Claire is getting braver with her walking-- I keep hoping that she'll realize that she knows how to walk now, and just take off!

Ben got a power-wheels tractor for Christmas. We've been working hard with him to help him figure out how to turn and steer. The first time Josh really worked with him on it, he kept driving into the snow-banks. After about the 15th time driving in the snow-bank, Ben climbed off of the tractor and said, "Dad, I'm just gonna walk." We're confident that he'll get it by this summertime. :o)

The only other thing that happened with the new year is that Emily got another new position at work-- in the Sales department! She is really liking her new position, and it means an earlier schedule which translates into more time with the kids (HOORAY!!!!!)

Thanks for tuning in, and you stay classy San Diego.